I hate using the Daily Mail as a source. 99% of the time they’re a fear mongering and pearl twisting tabloid. But in that 1% when they actually decide to practice journalism they’re really good at it.

Anyway Philadelphia police are saying that the gunman at the Delaware Valley Charter High School shooting, 17-year-old Raisheem Rochwell, allegedly purchased the gun moments before the shooting took place. Police are also saying that Rochwell bought the gun because he feared he was going to be the victim of an after school assault. Except it was shortly after the gun traded hands when a shot was fired striking two other students. It’s not known if either of the two victims were his intended targets or if the gun went off accidentally.

Rochwell’s attorney is still proclaiming his client’s innocence…

Rochwell ‘is not the person who will ultimately be responsible for this act,’ said lawyer Amato Sanita, who added that anything that may have happened was not ‘intentional’.

It sounds like they’re going for the accidental discharge defense.

The man accused of selling Rochwell the gun, 18-year-old Donte Walker, has also been arrested. Walker is a former student of the school.

UPDATE 6/30/2014:Walker was sentenced to 6-23 months in prison while Rochwell was given 2 years in juvie.